Date Night In: The trailer

Intro

I didn’t just make a movie and yet I’m here to show you a trailer. It feels a little weird and yet I love it. The trailer, I mean. It’s incredibly personal (hello, home movies) but it should be because so is the book.

It’s that honesty and vulnerability in the book that led me to my first (of many, I imagine) complete breakdowns. I mean we’re talking locked in a pitch black bathroom attempting to catch my breath in a pile of damp towels while the kids stand outside the door wondering what’s wrong with mama. “Mama, what are you doing? Are you laughing or crying?” Yeah, that sort of breakdown.

I’m sort of stuck in this dual world of terror and excitement. I’m eager for you all to finally see the book and just really hoping that you all love it and benefit from it as much as we do and have.

I’ll leave it at that and then point you to this incredibly heartfelt post my friend Tara wrote a couple years ago and then shared with me after I saw her the other day. She could see the terror all over me. I needed these words. I just told her in an email that this post was as if she went into my brain and put words to all my nonsense.

So, the trailer.

I’ve told you this before and I’ll tell you again, my brother, Chris Baron, is amazingly talented. He put this together (along with some great help from my ever-supportive husband).

Watch, enjoy, and if you feel so inclined please share it. Because as much as this whole thing terrifies me the desire to have this message shared far exceeds the fear.

56 Responses to “Date Night In: The trailer”

I LOVE this! I want to vow to do this with Matt. We are like you were a few years ago — chillin out on the couch, on our phones and computers, not talking much. I want to turn off all the tech and do something special like this once a week, too. xo

I just wanted to say, I ordered the book a couple of days ago because I am starting my own blog about food and dating (thehungrydater.com – Launching January 2015), and I knew your book would be an excellent resource. But after seeing the trailer and knowing where the idea came from, I am even more excited to read it. I know so many people who struggle with this issue in their marriages and relationships, and it’s always so great to hear of someone who has worked through the situation by coming back together as a couple in some small way. Food is a great way to do that.

I’ve been receiving your posts for about 6 months now. Your posts are inspiring and beautiful and I always look forward to reading new ones when they come to my inbox. Similarly, I can’t wait to receive my copy of the book.

Thanks again for giving single girls like me (and I’m sure many married ones as well) the hope that great relationships with both food and their partners are possible with a little love, a little work, and of course just a little salt. 🙂

Congrats on the book release! And tell your brother what an excellent piece of videography.

I teared up a little watching this video — I can only imagine what a roller coaster of emotions this must be for you, but hope that you know that I (and so many others, I know) find the message behind your book to be so tremendously powerful. It really hits home for us, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making something I value in my own relationship into such a beautiful book. I can’t wait to hold it in my hands. Thank you and congratulations, Ashley!

Any couple that has had multiple children in rapid fire succession knows exactly what you’re talking about. Survival mode, but the deep longing to just have a quiet moment to hold hands with your best friend and partner, to chat and nourish eachother. Your trailer hit home, got me all welled up, but most important- inspired to take back the relationship with my husband. Thanks for being brave, vulnerable, honest and so stinking talented. Can’t wait to use your book on our date nights. Bravo!

My dear, this IS beautiful. Sometimes (and by sometimes I mean always for me), putting ourselves out there is so intensely nauseating. I mean, nauseating for those of us doing the risking. But I am just one person who can tell you pointblank: Thanks. It is a good risk. And a welcomed offering. Good work. Keep breathing.

I swear it made me cry. Your genuine honesty is what has your readers coming back for more and what will make your book a huge success. And remember, don’t judge success by the numbers, judge it by the content. You are proud of this book, I can feel it, and your fans and fans-to-be can feel it, and thus, it is a success.
I can’t wait to hold it and read it. Your work is lovely.

I’m not married or in a relationship right now, but I love the idea of ‘Date Nights’ with your significant other. I also loved the idea of when you have your weekly date nights, to do it on a regular basis, and have the meal in your home, or where you’re both most comfortable. I also like when you said you try and make something different for the date night. I like that, since it makes the night seem more like a date.

I’m a new reader to your blog, but congratulations on having written a book! That is pretty amazing. And it’s great that you made a video as well, and that you were brave enough to show it to the world. I’m a private person myself, so I would be pretty nervous as you said you were about the video. But it’s a nice video, and a good introduction to the book 🙂

You two are the best – this is the most perfect trailer ever. It just captures your spirit so well and the spirit of your book. And the little sneak peeks are beautiful, I’m so excited to get my copy!!

This post is so beautiful and really struck home. My husband and I just had our first child and are realizing quickly how important it is to set time aside for each other and put down the computers when we do get that rare moment. Are you taking pre-orders for your book?

Wow, this is incredible. I absolutely love this video and the purpose behind it. I am not married yet, but you are right! It is so easy to just sit on the couch and get on social media on your phone or computer, watch television, etc. and not really spend time with one another. Important moments like that seem to get lost more easily in today’s world. Thanks so much for this post and making us think twice about what is really important 🙂

Wow. I just stumbled upon your website and, just wow! I find so many aspects of this that I have related to at one time or another. Definitely plan on buying your book as an early Christmas present to myself and my fiance. Thank you!

Ashley, that video is absolutely gorgeous. The vulnerability and strength it takes to share something so intimate completely comes across, and makes you so relatable. I am in a relationship as well, not with kids yet, but being busy full-time college students that work full time as well definitely makes it hard to connect. I can’t wait to get your book and try the recipes with my boyfriend. He always gets mad that I don’t let him help out in the kitchen, so maybe there will be a few recipes for him to make 🙂 Thank you for sharing such an important part of your life with us, and I look forward to reading your book soon!

Wonderful video! Very honest and open. I’ve been meaning to start something like this with my boyfriend. We don’t have the stress of kids to deal with, but long days at work often leave us the same way you described — on our computers not talking. Can’t wait to get the book!

What a simply beautiful, lovely and awesomely creative thing to do. My husband and I have been married for almost 44 years and began our tradition of weekly date nights waaaay back when the kids were little. Even though there are no longer kids at home, we still celebrate ourselves with “date night in” every week. To anyone who is just beginning a relationship or is in the throes of parenthood or just struggling to keep the fires burning, I think this book and the whole idea of being intentional about celebrating and honoring your relationship with food and quiet moments together is a must.

I have been following your blog since the beginning. I have made many of your recipes. They have all been delicious. You have a great deal to feel proud of… I think your food blog is one of the best designed blogs I have come across. When I watched the video trailer for your book, I smiled and positive energy filled the room. What outstanding work. As human beings it is really important to remember that our species learns best through sharing stories. Thank you for sharing your story with all of us… it is as important and valuable as all the recipes. I will be ordering the book. It will be my Christmas Gift to myself and my life partner. I was inspired and moved.

What a lovely trailer! I wish I were as wise as you when I was a young mom with little kids. How insightful that you were able to see what you and your husband needed to stay connected and take the time to make it happen. Also, so brave of you to be so vulnerable and share it all with us! Love being a voyeur into your little slice of life.

Wow.. This made me really well up! And it seems I’m not the only one. I can completely resonate with the ‘room mates with kids’ scenario and you have inspired me to take control and make something like this for ourselves too. The video is beautiful and your work is so inspiring. Thank you! I have ordered the book and can’t wait to read more x

What a beautiful trailer, Ashley! What you and your husband have been doing is truly amazing and inspiring. Very much looking forward to getting a copy of your book — it looks like it’s going to be amazing. Congrats!!! 🙂

Ashley, I’m terribly behind on saying this (I’m always terribly behind, light-years behind, on reading blogs, though I cherish every moment to dive in!), but congratulations on an enormous achievement, and one I’m just sure will be beautifully received. The trailer– lovely, honesty, so pure–makes me excited all the more to get my hands on the book. That you did this with three kiddos in the nest, all needing and wanting the way kids do with their mamas, is beyond, and beautiful. Bravo.

Ashley –
I received your cookbook from our mutual friend, Suzi (well she is my mom’s first cousin but a wonderful friend as well!) Tonight I am going to make some recipes from it for the first time and so I just popped on your blog to find out more. I happened upon your trailer and it actually made me cry a bit because what you spoke on film is how my husband and I are feeling right now. We have a four year old and a three month old and we desperately need something to kick our relationship out of the parenting/busyness of life doldrums and I look forward to starting our own very much needed Date Night In. So thank you to you and to Suzi! Bon Appetit!

Ashley saw the “Date Night In” trailer, you are just lovely and the trailer was so cool. I have had your site up on my computer for two days now after seeing your Frito Pie. I just got the time to look around your site, and let me just say all of your recipes look scrumptious! Am going to eat my way through them and will be posting when I do.